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Objectives Multimorbidity, known as multiple chronic conditions (MCC), is the coexistence of two or more chronic health conditions (CHC). The near-retirement-age population with MCC is more likely to experience discontinued labor force participation (LFP). Our objective was to evaluate the impact of MCC on LFP among adults aged 50–64 and to explore heterogeneous effects between self-employed and non-self-employed workers. Methods We constructed our sample using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from 1996 to 2018. We adopted an individual fixed-effect (F.E.) model and propensity score matching (PSM) to measure the impact of MCC on the probability of being employed and changes in annual work hours. Results 50.5% of respondents have MCC. Individuals with MCC exhibit a predicted probability of being employed that is 9.3 percentage points (p  < .01, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: −0.109, −0.078) lower than those without MCC. Compared with non-CHC, MCC significantly reduced annual working hours by 6.1% (p  < .01, 95% CI: −0.091, −0.036) in the F.E. model and by 4.9% (p  < .01, 95% CI: −0.064, −0.033) in PSM estimation. The effect is more pronounced for the self-employed with MCC, who have 13.0% (p  < .05, 95% CI: −0.233, −0.026) fewer annual work hours than non-CHC based on the FE model and 13.4% (p  < .01, 95% CI: −0.197, −0.070) in PSM estimation. Discussion MCC significantly reduces LFP compared with non-MCC. MCC has a heterogeneous impact across occupational types. It is important to support the near-retirement-age working population with multimorbidity through effective clinical interventions and workplace wellness policies to help manage health conditions and remain active in the labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with multiple chronic conditions often have many care plans, polypharmacy, and unrelieved symptoms that contribute to high emergency department and hospital use. High-quality primary care delivered in practices that employ nurse practitioners can help prevent the need for such acute care services. However, such practices located in primary care health professional shortage areas face challenges caring for these patients because of higher workloads and fewer resources. Objective: We examined differences in hospitalization and emergency department use among patients with multiple chronic conditions who receive care from practices that employ nurse practitioners in health professional shortage areas compared to practices that employ nurse practitioners in non-health professional shortage areas. Methods: We performed an analysis of Medicare claims, merged with Health Resources and Services Administration data on health professional shortage area status in five states. Our sample included 394,424 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years, with at least two of 15 common chronic conditions who received care in 779 practices that employ nurse practitioners. We used logistic regression to assess the relationship between health professional shortage area status and emergency department visits or hospitalizations. Results: We found a higher likelihood of emergency department visits among patients in health professional shortage areas compared to those in non-health professional shortage areas and no difference in the likelihood of hospitalization. Discussion: Emergency department use differences exist among older adults with multiple chronic conditions receiving care in practices that employ nurse practitioners in health professional shortage areas, compared to those in non-health professional shortage areas. To address this disparity, the health professional shortage area program should invest in recruiting and retaining nurse practitioners to health professional shortage areas to ease workforce shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine self-management of rural dwelling adults with multimorbidity. Sample: Participant sample (N=40) was recruited from 5 primary care clinics located in rural communities in the Midwestern United States. All participants resided in isolated rural communities based on zip code of residence (RUCA: 10). Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study measured four self-management outcomes (self-efficacy, social support, self-regulation, patient activation) and perceptions of rural community dwelling adults with multimorbidity (N=40). All participants resided in rural/isolated rural communities designated as RUCA 10 (Rural-Urban Commuting Area [RUCA] code). Findings: Study sample was primarily female (n=32), Caucasian (n=40), with a mean age of 62.13 years of age (range 37-90). Participants self-reported multimorbidity (2-7 chronic conditions) differed significantly from care-based (ICD-10 medical record) multimorbidity (range of 2-11 chronic conditions). This sample self-reported high levels of self-efficacy, patient activation, and social support. However, low self-regulation ability was noted in this sample. Participants perceptions of multimorbidity focused primarily on the emotional effects and prioritization required for daily management. Conclusion: Findings from this study elucidate the self-management outcomes and perceptions of rural community dwelling adults with multimorbidity giving a voice to this population to better inform development of interventions tailored to their contextual needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) are more common and costly than any individual health condition in the United States. The growing workforce of nurse practitioners (NPs) plays an active role in providing primary care to this patient population. This study identifies the effect of NP primary care models, compared with models without NP involvement, on cost, quality, and service utilization by patients with MCCs. We conducted a literature search of six databases and performed critical appraisal. Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria (years: 2003–2021). Overall, most studies showed reduced or similar costs, equivalent or better quality, and similar or lower rates of emergency department use and hospitalization associated with NP primary care models for patients with MCCs, compared with models without NP involvement. No studies found them associated with worse outcomes. Thus, NP primary care models, compared with models without NP involvement, have similar or positive impacts on MCC patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the complex care needs of seriously ill adults with multiple chronic conditions with and without cancer is critical for the delivery of high-quality serious illness and palliative care at the end of life. The objective of this secondary data analysis of a multisite randomized clinical trial in palliative care was to elucidate the clinical profile and complex care needs of seriously ill adults with multiple chronic conditions and to highlight key differences among those with and without cancer at the end of life. Of the 213 (74.2%) older adults who met criteria for multiple chronic conditions (eg, 2 or more chronic conditions requiring regular care with limitations of daily living), 49% had a diagnosis of cancer. Hospice enrollment was operationalized as an indicator for severity of illness and allowed for the capture of complex care needs of those deemed to be nearing the end of life. Individuals with cancer had complex symptomatology with a higher prevalence of nausea, drowsiness, and poor appetite and end of life and lower hospice enrollment. Individuals with multiple chronic conditions without cancer had lower functional status, greater number of medications, and higher hospice enrollment. The care of seriously ill older adults with multiple chronic conditions requires tailored approaches to improve outcomes and quality of care across health care settings, particularly at the end of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We performed a pragmatic, cluster randomized controlled trial of a comprehensive practice-level, multistage practice transformation intervention aiming to increase behavioral health integration in primary care practices and improve patient outcomes. We examined associations between completion of intervention stages and patient outcomes across a heterogeneous national sample of primary care practices., Methods: Forty-two primary care practices across the United States with colocated behavioral health and 2,945 patients with multiple chronic medical and behavioral health conditions completed surveys at baseline, midpoint, and 2-year follow-up. We examined effects of intervention on patient health and primary care integration outcomes using multilevel mixed-effects models, controlling for baseline outcome measurements., Results: No differences were found associated with the number of intervention stages completed and patient health outcomes including depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain, pain interference, social participation, and physical function. However, the completion of each intervention stage was associated with increases in Practice Integration Profile domain scores and confirmed with modeling using multiple imputation for the following: workflow 3.5 (95% CI, 0.9 to 6.1), integration methods 4.6 (95% CI, 1.5 to 7.6), patient identification 2.9 (95% CI, 0.9 to 5.0), and total integration 2.7 (95% CI, 0.7 to 4.7)., Conclusion: A practice-centric flexible practice transformation intervention improved integration of behavioral health in primary care across heterogeneous primary care practices treating patients with multiple chronic conditions when accounting for completion of intervention stages. Interventions that allow practices to flexibly improve care have the potential to help complex patient populations. Future research is needed to determine how to best target patient health outcomes at the population level., (© 2025 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.)

This study examined the associations of polysubstance use, mood disorders, and chronic conditions with the history of anxiety disorder among patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). We performed a secondary analysis of the baseline data from a clinical trial including 1,645 individuals with OUD, of which 513 had anxiety disorder. Substance use disorders (SUDs) included alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, and sedative use disorders. Mood disorders included major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). Chronic conditions were allergies, gastrointestinal problem(s), skin problem(s), and hypertension. Sedative use disorder, MDD, BD, skin problems, and hypertension were significantly associated with anxiety disorder (p < 0.05). Additionally, more than two SUDs, two mood disorders, and more than two chronic conditions were significantly associated with anxiety disorder (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the comorbid mental health and physical health problems in individuals with OUD, as well as the need for integrated multidisciplinary treatment plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the United States, over 60% of adults aged 65 years or older have multiple chronic health conditions, with consequences that include reduced quality of life, increasingly complex but less person-centered treatment, and higher health care costs. A previous trial of ElderTree, an eHealth intervention for older adults, found socioemotional benefits for those with high rates of primary care use., Objective: This study tested the effectiveness of an ElderTree intervention designed specifically for older patients with multiple chronic conditions to determine whether combining it with primary care improved socioemotional and physical outcomes., Methods: In a nonblinded randomized controlled trial, 346 participants recruited from primary care clinics were assigned 1:1 to the ElderTree intervention or an attention control and were followed for 12 months. All participants were aged 65 years or older and had electronic health record diagnoses of at least three of 11 chronic conditions. Primary outcomes were mental and physical quality of life, psychological well-being (feelings of competence, connectedness, meaningfulness, and optimism), and loneliness. Tested mediators of the effects of the study arm (ElderTree vs active control) on changes in primary outcomes over time were 6-month changes in health coping, motivation, feelings of relatedness, depression, and anxiety. Tested moderators were sex, scheduled health care use, and number of chronic conditions. Data sources were surveys at baseline and 6 and 12 months comprising validated scales, and continuously collected ElderTree usage., Results: At 12 months, 76.1% (134/176) of ElderTree participants were still using the intervention. There was a significant effect of ElderTree (vs control) on improvements over 12 months in mental quality of life (arm × timepoint interaction: b=0.76, 95% CI 0.14-1.37; P=.02; 12-month ∆d=0.15) but no such effect on the other primary outcomes of physical quality of life, psychological well-being, or loneliness. Sex moderated the effects of the study arm over time on mental quality of life (b=1.33, 95% CI 0.09-2.58; P=.04) and psychological well-being (b=1.13, 95% CI 0.13-2.12; P=.03), with stronger effects for women than men. The effect of the study arm on mental quality of life was mediated by 6-month improvements in relatedness (α=1.25, P=.04; b=0.31, P<.001). Analyses of secondary and exploratory outcomes showed minimal effects of ElderTree., Conclusions: Consistent with the previous iteration of ElderTree, the current iteration designed for older patients with multiple chronic conditions showed signs of improving socioemotional outcomes but no impact on physical outcomes. This may reflect the choice of chronic conditions for inclusion, which need not have impinged on patients' physical quality of life. Two ongoing trials are testing more specific versions of ElderTree targeting older patients coping with (1) chronic pain and (2) greater debilitation owing to at least 5 chronic conditions., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03387735; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03387735., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/25175., (©David H Gustafson Sr, Marie-Louise Mares, Darcie Johnston, Olivia J Vjorn, John J Curtin, Gina Landucci, Klaren Pe-Romashko, David H Gustafson Jr, Dhavan V Shah. Originally published in JMIR Aging (https://aging.jmir.org), 06.12.2024.)

Background: This paper was jointly developed from members of the American Academy of Nursing Expert Panels on Palliative and End of Life Care, Primary Care, Aging, Acute and Critical Care, and two expert physicians., Purpose: The overarching goal is to promote the integration of palliative care as symptom management into the primary care setting to transform care for patients living with multiple chronic conditions., Methods: Embracing the recommendations made by the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine to initiate palliative care or symptom management at the onset of nonreversible or serious chronic conditions., Discussion: Earlier palliative interventions reduce disease exacerbation, prevent hospitalization, maintain physical functioning, and support health-related quality of life., Conclusion: This is a needed paradigm shift as the nation's aging population escalates, Americans are living longer, and the healthcare costs for the nation are unprecedented., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The co-occurrence of chronic illnesses and substance use presents complex challenges for health care systems. Understanding the interplay between these factors, compounded by the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, is essential for effective intervention strategies., Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationships among chronic illness, substance use, and COVID-19 infection in adults aged 50 years and older., Methods: Participants were 1196 adults aged 50 years and older. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic information. Logistic regressions and multiple regression analyses were used to determine associations between chronic illnesses, substance use, and COVID-19 infection. Mediation analysis was used to determine the effect of chronic illness mediators in the association between COVID-19 concerns and substance use., Results: The mean age was 68 (SD 10.3) years, with 58.6% (701/1196) being women. Adjusted analysis revealed that age and sex (women) significantly predicted a lower level of substance use (P<.05). However, marital status (separated or widowed) and chronic illness significantly predicted a higher level of substance use (P<.05). Furthermore, having dementia, arthritis, and high cholesterol significantly predicted a higher level of concern about the COVID-19 pandemic (P<.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals with hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 1.91, 95% CI 1.37-2.66; P<.001), lung disease (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.23-4.75; P=.01), heart condition (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.28-3.10; P=.002), stroke (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.07-5.16; P=.03), and arthritis (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.25-2.37; P=.001) were more likely to have their work affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The mediation analysis showed a significant effect of COVID-19 concern on substance use through the mediation of chronic illness, with a 95% CI of -0.02 to -0.01 and an indirect effect of -0.01., Conclusions: Our study reveals complex associations among chronic illnesses, substance use, and COVID-19 infection among adults aged 50 years and older. It underscores the impact of demographics and specific chronic conditions on substance use behaviors and COVID-19 concerns. In addition, certain chronic illnesses were linked to heightened vulnerability in employment status during the pandemic. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions addressing physical health and substance use in this population during the COVID-19 pandemic., (©Suebsarn Ruksakulpiwat, Atsadaporn Niyomyart, Chontira Riangkam, Lalipat Phianhasin, Chitchanok Benjasirisan, Jon Adams. Originally published in JMIR Aging (https://aging.jmir.org), 15.10.2024.)

Background: Serious illness is characterized by high symptom burden that negatively affects quality of life (QOL). Although palliative care research has highlighted symptom burden in seriously ill adults with cancer, symptom burden among those with noncancer serious illness and multiple chronic conditions has been understudied. Latent class analysis is a statistical method that can be used to better understand the relationship between severity of symptom burden and covariates, such as the presence of multiple chronic conditions. Although latent class analysis has been used to highlight subgroups of seriously ill adults with cancer based on symptom clusters, none have incorporated multiple chronic conditions. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to (a) describe the demographic and baseline characteristics of seriously ill adults at the end of life in a palliative care cohort, (b) identify latent subgroups of seriously ill individuals based on severity of symptom burden, and (c) examine variables associated with latent subgroup membership, such as QOL, functional status, and the presence of multiple chronic conditions. Methods : A secondary data analysis of a palliative care clinical trial was conducted. The latent class analysis was based on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, which measures nine symptoms on a scale of 0-10 (e.g. pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiousness, drowsiness, appetite, well-being, and shortness of breath). Clinically significant cut-points for symptom severity were used to categorize each symptom item in addition to a categorized total score. Results : Three latent subgroups were identified (e.g. low, moderate, and high symptom burden). Lower overall QOL was associated with membership in the moderate and high symptom burden subgroups. Multiple chronic conditions were associated with statistically significant membership in the high symptom burden latent subgroup. Older adults between 65 and 74 years had a lower likelihood of moderate or high symptom burden subgroup membership compared to the low symptom burden class. Discussion : Lower QOL was associated with high symptom burden. Multiple chronic conditions were associated with high symptom burden, which underlines the clinical complexity of serious illness. Palliative care at the end of life for seriously ill adults with high symptom burden must account for the presence of multiple chronic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and risk of cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND) and dementia among older Americans. A sample of 637 individuals aged 70 or older was drawn from the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study, a supplementary dataset of the larger national Health and Retirement Study. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association between MCC and cognition categorized as (a) no cognitive impairment, (b) CIND, or (c) dementia. Having MCC, particularly three or more chronic conditions, was significantly related to being diagnosed with CIND in our study, but not dementia. Our findings suggest that the presence of MCC may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment in later life. However, further investigation using a longitudinal design is needed to better understand the mechanism of how MCC may be related to CIND and dementia among older adults in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the incremental absenteeism-related wage loss associated with multimorbidity and examine the influence of paid sick leave policy (PSLP) on multimorbidity-associated absenteeism wage loss. Methods: We used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) 2015 data. Two-part generalized linear models (GLM) were employed. using binomial distribution and gamma distribution with a log link. Results: Nationally, multimorbidity was associated with a $9 billion incremental absenteeism-related wage loss annually among working adults. Absenteeism-related wage loss was higher among those with multimorbidity than those without multimorbidity. The incremental annual absenteeism-related wage loss associated with multimorbidity was lower in settings that offered paid sick leave than that did not offer paid sick leaves. Conclusion: Multimorbidity is associated with higher absenteeism-related wage loss. Paid sick leave policies can reduce the impact of multimorbidity on absenteeism-related wage loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple chronic conditions (MCC) reduce quality of life and are associated with high per capita health care spending. One potential way to reduce Medicare spending for MCC is to identify counties whose populations have high levels of spending compared to level of disease burden. Using a nationally representative sample of Medicare Fee-for-Service beneficiaries, this paper presents a method to measure the collective burden of several chronic conditions in a population, which the authors have termed the concentration of chronic conditions (CCC). The authors observed a significantly positive linear relationship between the CCC measure and county-level per capita Medicare spending. This area-level measure can be operationalized to identify counties that might benefit from targeted efforts designed to optimally manage and prevent chronic illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Providing healthcare for older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) is challenging. Polypharmacy and complex treatment plans can lead to high treatment burden and risk for adverse events. For clinicians, managing the complexities of patients with MCC leaves little room to identify what matters and align care options with patients' health priorities. New care approaches are needed to navigate these challenges. In this clinical trial, we evaluate implementation and effectiveness outcomes of an innovative, structured, patient-centered care approach (Patient Priorities Care; PPC) for reducing treatment burden and aligning health care decisions with the health priorities of older adults with MCC., Methods: This is a multisite, assessor-blind, two-arm, parallel hybrid type 1 randomized controlled trial. We are enrolling 396 older (65+) Veterans with MCC who receive primary care at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Veterans are randomly assigned to either PPC or usual care. In the PPC arm, Veterans have a brief telephone call with a study facilitator to identify their personal health priorities. Then, primary care providers use this information to align healthcare with Veteran priorities during their established clinic appointments. Data are collected at baseline and 4-month follow up to assess for changes in treatment burden and use of home and community services. Formative and summative evaluations are also collected to assess for implementation outcomes according to Proctor's implementation framework., Conclusions: This work has the potential to significantly improve the standard of care by personalizing healthcare and helping patients achieve what is most important to them., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Older adults with varying patterns of multimorbidity may require distinct types of care and rely on informal caregiving to meet their care needs. This study aims to identify groups of older adults with distinct, empirically-determined multimorbidity patterns and compare characteristics of informal care received among estimated classes., Methods: Data are from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). Ten chronic conditions were included to estimate multimorbidity patterns among 7532 individuals using latent class analysis. Multinomial logistic regression model was estimated to examine the association between sociodemographic characteristics, health status and lifestyle variables, care-receiving characteristics and latent class membership., Results: A four-class solution identified the following multimorbidity groups: some somatic conditions with moderate cognitive impairment (30%), cardiometabolic (25%), musculoskeletal (24%), and multisystem (21%). Compared with those who reported receiving no help, care recipients who received help with household activities only (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.05-1.98), mobility but not self-care (OR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.05-2.53), or self-care but not mobility (OR = 2.07, 95% CI 1.29-3.31) had greater likelihood of being in the multisystem group versus the some-somatic group. Having more caregivers was associated with higher odds of being in the multisystem group compared with the some-somatic group (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.00-1.18), whereas receiving help from paid helpers was associated with lower odds of being in the multisystem group (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.19-0.77)., Conclusions: Results highlighted different care needs among persons with distinct combinations of multimorbidity, in particular the wide range of informal needs among older adults with multisystem multimorbidity. Policies and interventions should recognize the differential care needs associated with multimorbidity patterns to better provide person-centered care., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: High-need Medicare beneficiaries require elevated levels of care and coordination to manage their conditions. We evaluated the extent to which high-need beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) or traditional Medicare (TM) accountable care organizations (ACOs) relative to TM non-ACOs., Study Design: Using Medicare claims and MA encounter data, we identified 3 groups of high-need beneficiaries: (1) individuals younger than 65 years with a disability or end-stage kidney disease, (2) frail individuals, and (3) older individuals with major complex or multiple noncomplex chronic conditions. For comparison, we included non-high-need beneficiaries in the analysis, including those with minor complex chronic conditions., Methods: Descriptive analysis of Medicare enrollment patterns and beneficiary characteristics of high-need and other beneficiaries between 2016 and 2019., Results: In 2019, high-need beneficiaries accounted for 18 million or 32% of enrollees in TM and MA, an increase of approximately 1 million since 2016, driven by growth in MA. A larger share of beneficiaries in TM ACOs was high need (38%) compared with MA (24%). Although the total count of high-need beneficiaries in TM remained stable from 2016 to 2019, ACOs saw an increase of almost 1.5 million high-need beneficiaries (39% increase), and TM non-ACOs saw a decrease of 1.9 million (23% decrease)., Conclusions: We found that high-need beneficiaries were more likely to be in TM non-ACOs than in MA through 2019. However, an increasing number of these beneficiaries are enrolling in MA or aligned with a TM ACO. A projected increase in the population of older adults will increase the economic burden of caring for high-need individuals.

In the healthcare sector, patients can be categorized into clinical risk groups, which are based, in part, on multiple chronic conditions. Population-based measures of clinical risk groups for population health planning, however, are not available. Using responses of working-age adults (19–64 years old) from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for survey years 2015–2017, a population-based measure of chronic disease severity (CDS) was developed as a proxy for clinical risk groups. Four categories of CDS were developed: low, medium-low, medium-high, and high, based on self-reported diagnoses of multiple chronic conditions, weighted by hospitalization costs. Prevalence estimates of CDS were prepared, by population demographics and state characteristics, and CDS association with perceived health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was evaluated. Age-adjusted CDS varied from 72.9% (95% CI: 72.7–73.1%) for low CDS, to 21.0% (95% CI: 20.8–21.2%), 4.4% (95% CI: 4.3–4.5%) and 1.7% (95% CI: 1.6–1.8%) for medium-low, medium-high, and high CDS, respectively. The prevalence of high CDS was significantly greater (p < 0.05) among older adults, those living below the federal poverty level, and those with disabilities. The adjusted odds of fair/poor perceived HRQOL among adults with medium-low or medium-high/high CDS were 2.39 times (95% CI: 2.30–2.48) or 6.53 times (95% CI: 6.22–6.86) higher, respectively, than adults with low CDS. Elevated odds of fair/poor HRQOL with increasing CDS coincided with less prevalence of high CDS among men, minority race/ethnicities, and adults without insurance, suggesting a link between CDS and risk of mortality. Prevalence of high CDS was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in states with lower population density, lower per capita income, and in states that did not adopt the ACA. These results demonstrate the relevance of a single continuous population-based measure of chronic disease severity for health planning at the state, regional, and national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite decreases in readmissions among Medicare beneficiaries after the implementation of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, older adults living with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) continue to experience higher readmission rates. Few strategies leverage nursing to identify patients at risk for readmission., Objectives: Examine the effect of nurse assessments of discharge readiness on 30-day readmissions., Research Design: Cross-sectional study linking 3 secondary data sources (ie, nurse survey, hospital survey, and Medicare claims data) representing 424 hospitals., Subjects: A total of 188,806 Medicare surgical patients with MCCs., Measures: Discharge readiness was derived from the 2016 RN4CAST-US survey. Medicare claims data was used to determine the MCC count. The outcome was 30-day readmissions across the MCC count., Results: The average discharge readiness score was 0.45 (range=0-0.86) indicating that, in the average hospital, <50% of nurses were confident their patient or caregiver could manage their care after discharge. Nearly 8% of patients were readmitted within 30 days of discharge; the highest rates of readmissions were among individuals with ≥5 MCCs (4293, 13.50%). For each 10% increase in the proportion of nurses in a hospital who were confident in their patients' discharge readiness, the odds of 30-day readmission decreased by 2% (95% CI: 0.96-1.00; P =0.028) for patients with 2-4 MCCs and 3% (95% CI: 0.94-0.99; P =0.015) for patients with ≥5 MCCs, relative to patients with 0-1 MCCs., Conclusions: Nurse assessments of discharge readiness may be a useful signal for hospitals to reduce readmissions and examine factors interfering with discharge processes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Increased use of oral anticancer agents (OAAs) has empowered adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) to manage their therapy, but this shift may complicate medication use, particularly among adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC)., Methods: This retrospective cohort study used 2013-2018 commercial and Medicare claims data to assess medication use in adults with CML or CLL. To be included, patients must have been at least 18 years old, diagnosed with and had 2+ claims for an OAA indicated for either CML or CLL, continuously enrolled 12 months before and after OAA initiation, and treated for (2+ fills) at least two select chronic conditions. Proportion of days covered (PDC) determined medication adherence and was compared for 12 months before and after OAA initiation by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, McNemar's tests, and difference-in-differences models., Results: Among CLL patients, mean OAA adherence in the first year of therapy was 79.8% (SD: 21.1) and 74.7% (SD: 24.9) for commercial and Medicare patients, respectively; mean adherence for CML patients was 84.5% (SD: 15.8) and 80.1% (SD: 20.1) for commercial and Medicare patients, respectively. Adherence and the proportion adherent (PDC ≥ 80%) to comorbid therapies was generally unchanged following OAA initiation. Consistently unremarkable changes in MCC adherence were observed in 12-month difference-in-differences models, but significant decline was observed in MCC adherence after 6 months of OAA use., Conclusions: OAA initiation among adults with CML or CLL was not associated with significant, initial changes to adherence to medications for chronic diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Multimorbidity is increasing among adults in the United States. Yet limited research has examined multimorbidity clusters in persons aged 50 years and older with and without a history of cancer. An increased understanding of multimorbidity clusters may improve the cancer survivorship experience for survivors with multimorbidity., Methods: We identified 7580 adults aged 50 years and older with 2 or more diseases-including 811 adults with a history of primary breast, colorectal, cervical, prostate, or lung cancer-from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey. Exploratory factor analysis identified clusters of multimorbidity among cancer survivors and individuals without a history of cancer (controls). Frequency tables and chi-square tests were performed to determine overall differences in sociodemographic characteristics, health-related characteristics, and multimorbidity between groups., Results: Cancer survivors reported a higher prevalence of having 4 or more diseases compared to controls (57% and 38%, respectively). Our analysis identified 6 clusters for cancer survivors and 4 clusters for controls. Three clusters (pulmonary, cardiac, and liver) included the same diseases for cancer survivors and controls., Conclusions: Diseases clustered differently across adults ≥ 50 years of age with and without a history of cancer. Findings from this study may be used to inform clinical care, increase the development and dissemination of multilevel public health interventions, escalate system improvements, and initiate innovative policy reform., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study examines the patterns of 30-day hospital readmissions by race/ethnicity and multiple chronic conditions (MCC) burden among nonelderly adult patients. We used hospital discharge data of patients in the 18- to 64-year age group in 5 US states, California, Florida, Missouri, New York, and Tennessee, for 2009 from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database (HCUP-SID) of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, linked to contextual and provider data from the Health Resources and Services Administration. A multilevel logistic regression model was used for data pooled over 5 states, adjusting for patient, hospital, and community characteristics. Controlling for other covariates, the study found that a higher MCC burden was associated with a higher all-cause 30-day readmission risk.We found considerable heterogeneity in levels of readmission risk among racial/ethnic subgroups stratified by chronic conditions. Among patients with a lowest MCC burden, African Americans had the highest risk of readmission, but with a higher MCC burden, the risk of readmission increased most for Hispanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether neighborhood context moderates the relationship between multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) and function in Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries. DESIGN: Cross‐sectional study. SETTING: Medicare Health Outcome Survey Cohort 16 baseline data from 2013. PARTICIPANTS: MA beneficiaries aged 65 and older (N=187,434). MEASUREMENTS: We defined disadvantaged neighborhoods as those with an Area Deprivation Index greater than the 85th percentile. MCCs was defined as having 2 or more chronic conditions. The primary outcome was any self‐reported functional limitations with a basic or instrumental activity of daily living. We used survey‐weighted multivariate linear probability regression to examine whether the neighborhood disadvantage moderates the relationship between MCCs and report of a functional limitation. RESULTS: More than one third (35.6%) of the sample reported a functional limitation. Beneficiaries with MCCs were more likely to report a functional limitation those with 0 or 1 chronic condition (odds ratio (OR)=2.63, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.50–2.77). Beneficiaries in more‐disadvantaged neighborhoods were more likely to report a functional limitation than those in less‐disadvantaged neighborhoods (OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.08–1.21). In older adults with MCCs, the probability of reporting a functional limitation was 12 percentage points greater in those living in more‐disadvantaged neighborhoods than in those living in less‐disadvantaged neighborhoods. CONCLUSION: Neighborhood context is a significant predictor of functional limitation and moderates the association between chronic conditions and functional limitations. Health plans and public health officials could use publicly available indicators such as the ADI to target interventions to reduce functional impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Increased out-of-pocket health-care expenditures may exert budget pressure on low-income households that leads to food insecurity. The objective of the present study was to examine whether older adults with higher chronic disease burden are at increased risk of food insecurity. Design: Secondary analysis of the 2013 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Health Care and Nutrition Study (HCNS) linked to the 2012 nationally representative HRS. Setting: USA. Subjects: Respondents of the 2013 HRS HCNS with household incomes <300 % of the federal poverty line (n 3552). Chronic disease burden was categorized by number of concurrent chronic conditions (0–1, 2–4, ≥5 conditions), with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) defined as ≥2 conditions. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity was 27·8 %. Compared with those having 0–1 conditions, respondents with MCC were significantly more likely to report food insecurity, with the adjusted odds ratio for those with 2–4 conditions being 2·12 (95 % CI 1·45, 3·09) and for those with ≥5 conditions being 3·64 (95 % CI 2·47, 5·37). Conclusions: A heavy chronic disease burden likely exerts substantial pressure on the household budgets of older adults, creating an increased risk for food insecurity. Given the high prevalence of food insecurity among older adults, screening those with MCC for food insecurity in the clinical setting may be warranted in order to refer to community food resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To find clinically relevant combinations of chronic conditions among patients with diabetes and to examine their relationships with six diabetes quality metrics.Data Sources/study Setting: Twenty-nine thousand five hundred and sixty-two adult patients with diabetes seen at eight Midwestern U.S. health systems during 2010-2011.Study Design: We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between six diabetes quality metrics and patients' combinations of chronic conditions. We analyzed 12 conditions that were concordant with diabetes care to define five mutually exclusive combinations of conditions ("classes") based on condition co-occurrence. We used logistic regression to quantify the relationship between condition classes and quality metrics, adjusted for patient demographics and utilization.Data Collection: We extracted electronic health record data using a standardized algorithm.Principal Findings: We found the following condition classes: severe cardiac, cardiac, noncardiac vascular, risk factors, and no concordant comorbidities. Adjusted odds ratios and 95 percent confidence intervals for glycemic control were, respectively, 1.95 (1.7-2.2), 1.6 (1.4-1.9), 1.3 (1.2-1.5), and 1.3 (1.2-1.4) compared to the class with no comorbidities. Results showed similar patterns for other metrics.Conclusions: Patients had distinct quality metric achievement by condition class, and those in less severe classes were less likely to achieve diabetes metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multimorbidity (multiple co-occurring chronic conditions) may be an important contributor to disability and poor health-related quality of life. The functional consequences of specific combinations of somatic and mental health conditions are unclear.Methods: Nationally representative prospective cohort study using the National Health and Aging Trends Study data of Medicare beneficiaries. We included 4,017 participants aged 65 years or older interviewed in 2013 and 2014. The primary outcome was prospective activities of daily living (ADL)-instrumental ADL (IADL) index (range = 0-11) assessed in 2014. All other measures were assessed in 2013. Chronic conditions included heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, lung disease, osteoporosis, cancer, depression, and cognitive impairment. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and baseline ADL-IADL.Results: Thirty-four percent of multimorbidity combinations included depression, cognitive impairment, or both. Relative to multimorbidity combinations of exclusively somatic conditions, combinations that included both depression and cognitive impairment were associated with 1.34 times greater ADL-IADL in adjusted models (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09, 1.64). Relative to combinations of both depression and cognitive impairment, combinations of cognitive impairment and somatic conditions were associated with 0.84 times lower ADL-IADL in adjusted models (95% CI: 0.74, 0.96); combinations of depression and somatic conditions were associated with 0.72 times lower ADL-IADL in adjusted models (95% CI: 0.62, 0.85).Conclusions: Depression and/or cognitive impairment was identified in one-third of older adults with multimorbidity, and these combinations were associated with substantially greater prospective disability than combinations comprised exclusively of somatic conditions. This argues for identifying and managing mental health conditions that co-occur with somatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency department (ED) visits and the number of adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) have been increasing over the last decade, but little is known about the trends in ED use for patients with MCC. This study examined national trends in ED use for those with MCC compared with one chronic condition and no chronic conditions and used data from the 2007-2012 National Emergency Department Sample, limited to patients 45 years old or older. ED visits for encounters with one chronic condition and MCC increased at significantly greater rates than for those with no chronic conditions both overall and for all subgroups examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Having more than one chronic condition is common and is associated with greater health care utilization, higher medication burden and complexity of treatment. However, clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) do not routinely address the balance between harms and benefits of treatments for people with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs).Objective: To partner with the Kaiser Permanente Integrated Cardiovascular Health (ICVH) program to engage multiple stakeholders in a mixed-methods approach in order to: 1) identify two high-priority clinical questions related to MCCs, and 2) understand patients' and family caregivers' perceptions of meaningful outcomes to inform benefit/harm assessments for these two high-priority questions. These clinical questions and outcomes will be used to inform CPG recommendations for people with MCCs. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: The ICVH program provided 130 topics rank-ordered by the potential for finding evidence that would change clinical recommendations regarding the topic. We used a modified Delphi method to identify and reword topics into questions relevant to people with MCCs. We used two sets of focus groups (n = 27) to elicit patient and caregiver perspectives on two important research questions and relevant patient-important outcomes on benefit/harm balance for people with MCCs.Key Results: Co-investigators, patients and caregivers identified "optimal blood pressure goals" and "diabetes medication management" as important clinical topics for CPGs related to people with MCCs. Stakeholders identified a list of relevant outcomes to be addressed in future CPG development including 1) physical function and energy, 2) emotional health and well-being, 3) avoidance of treatment burden, side effects and risks, 4) interaction with providers and health care system, and 5) prevention of adverse long-term health outcomes.Conclusions: Through the application of a mixed-methods process, we identified the questions regarding optimal blood pressure goals and diabetes medication management, along with related patient-centered outcomes, to inform novel evidence syntheses for those with MCCs. This study provides the lessons learned and a generalizable process for CPG developers to engage patient and caregivers in priority-setting for the translation of evidence into future CPGs. Ultimately, engaging patient and stakeholders around MCCs could improve the relevance of CPGs for the care of people with MCCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To prioritize research topics relevant to the care of the growing population of older adults with multiple chronic conditions ( MCCs). Design Survey of experts in MCC practice, research, and policy. Topics were derived from white papers, funding announcements, or funded research projects relating to older adults with MCCs. Setting Survey conducted through the Health Care Systems Research Network ( HCSRN) and Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers ( OAICs) Advancing Geriatrics Infrastructure and Network Growth Initiative, a joint endeavor of the HCSRN and OAICs. Participants Individuals affiliated with the HCSRN or OAICs and national MCC experts, including individuals affiliated with funding agencies having MCC-related grant portfolios. Measurements A 'top box' methodology was used, counting the number of respondents selecting the top response on a 5-point Likert scale and dividing by the total number of responses to calculate a top box percentage for each of 37 topics. Results The highest-ranked research topics relevant to the health and healthcare of older adults with MCCs were health-related quality of life in older adults with MCCs; development of assessment tools (to assess, e.g., symptom burden, quality of life, function); interactions between medications, disease processes, and health outcomes; disability; implementation of novel (and scalable) models of care; association between clusters of chronic conditions and clinical, financial, and social outcomes; role of caregivers; symptom burden; shared decision-making to enhance care planning; and tools to improve clinical decision-making. Conclusion Study findings serve to inform the development of a comprehensive research agenda to address the challenges relating to the care of this 'high-need, high-cost' population and the healthcare delivery systems responsible for serving it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the United States, national incentives for offering access to electronic personal health records (ePHRs) through electronic means are geared toward creating a culture of patient engagement. One group of patients who stand to benefit from online access to ePHRs is the growing population with multiple chronic conditions (MCC). However, little is known about the current availability and use of ePHRs and patient portals among those managing MCC.Objective: The aim was to determine the associations between number of chronic conditions and sociodemographic characteristics and usage of ePHRs, and to assess how the public's use of ePHRs varies across subpopulations, including those with MCC.Methods: This study used data collected from the 2014 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), and assessed differences in use of ePHRs between those with and without MCC (N=3497) using multiple logistic regression techniques. Variables associated with health care systems (insurance status, having a regular provider) and patient-reported self-efficacy were included in the statistical models.Results: Those with MCC (n=1555) had significantly higher odds of accessing their records three or more times in the past year compared to those reporting no chronic conditions (n=1050; OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.37-4.45), but the overall percentage of those with MCC using ePHRs remained low (371 of 1529 item respondents, 25.63% weighted). No difference in odds of accessing their records was found between those reporting one chronic condition (n=892) and those reporting none (n=1050; OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.66-1.58). Significant differences in odds of accessing ePHRs were seen between income and age groups (P<.001 and P=.05, respectively), and by whether respondents had a regular provider (P=.03).Conclusions: We conclude that ePHRs provide a unique opportunity to enhance MCC patient self-management, but additional effort is needed to ensure that these patients are able to access their ePHRs. An increase in availability of patient access to their ePHRs may provide an opportunity to increase patient engagement and support self-management for all patients and especially those with MCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine the extent of agreement between four commonly used definitions of multiple chronic conditions ( MCCs) and compare each definition's ability to predict 30-day hospital readmissions. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting National Medicare claims data. Participants Random sample of Medicare beneficiaries discharged from the hospital from 2005 to 2009 (n = 710,609). Measurements Baseline chronic conditions were determined for each participant using four definitions of MCC. The primary outcome was all-cause 30-day hospital readmission. Agreement between MCC definitions was measured, and sensitivities and specificities for each definition's ability to identify patients experiencing a future readmission were calculated. Logistic regression was used to assess the ability of each MCC definition to predict 30-day hospital readmission. Results The sample prevalence of hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries with two or more chronic conditions ranged from 18.6% (Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups ( ACG) Case-Mix System software) to 92.9% (Medicare Chronic Condition Warehouse ( CCW)). There was slight to moderate agreement (kappa = 0.03-0.44) between pair-wise combinations of MCC definitions. CCW-defined MCC was the most sensitive (sensitivity 95.4%, specificity 7.4%), and ACG-defined MCC was the most specific (sensitivity 32.7%, specificity 83.2%) predictor of being readmitted. In the fully adjusted model, the risk of readmission was higher for those with chronic condition Special Needs Plan (c- SNP)-defined MCCs (odds ratio ( OR) = 1.50, 95% confidence interval ( CI) = 1.47-1.52), Charlson Comorbidity Index-defined MCCs ( OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.42-1.47), ACG-defined MCCs ( OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.19-1.25), and CCW-defined MCCs ( OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.11-1.19) than for those without MCCs. Conclusion MCC definitions demonstrate poor agreement and should not be used interchangeably. The two definitions with the greatest agreement ( CCI, c- SNP) were also the best predictors of 30-day hospital readmissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unmet social needs may impair health and access to health care, and intervening on these holds particular promise in high-risk patient populations, such as those with multiple chronic conditions. Our objective was to identify social needs in a patient population at significant risk-Medicare enrollees with multiple chronic illnesses enrolled in care management services-and measure their prevalence prior to any systematic screening., Methods: We partnered with Renova Health, an independent Medicare Chronic Care Management (CCM) provider with patients in 10 states during our study period (January 2017 through August 2020). Our data included over 3,000 Medicare CCM patients, representing nearly 20,000 encounters. We used a dictionary-based natural language processing approach to ascertain the prevalence of six domains of barriers to care (food insecurity, housing instability, utility hardship) and unmet social needs (health care affordability, need for supportive services, transportation) in notes taken during telephonic Medicare CCM patient encounters., Results: Barriers to care, specifically need for supportive services (2.4%) and health care affordability (0.8%), were the most prevalent domains identified. Transportation as a barrier to care came up relatively less frequently in CCM encounters (0.1%). Unmet social needs were identified at a comparatively lower rate, with potential housing instability (0.3%) flagged most followed by potential utility hardship (0.2%) and food insecurity (0.1%)., Conclusions: There is substantial untapped opportunity to systematically screen for social determinants of health and unmet social needs in care management., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between hearing loss, cognitive status, and a range of health outcomes over a period of 2 years in a sample of older adults who are enrolled in Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, which is a Medicare/Medicaid beneficiary program for individuals who are nursing home eligible but living in the community at time of enrollment., Method: The sample ( N = 144) includes a diverse (47% White/non-Hispanic, 35% Black/African American, and 16% Latin/Hispanic) group of adults ranging from 55 to 93 years old. We used medical chart data to measure respondents' cognitive and health status, including chronic conditions and hospital use. Hearing status was measured once at the beginning of the 2-year review period. We used logistic regression and negative binomial hurdle models for analyses. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to explore the extent to which respondents cluster into a set of "health profiles" characterized by their hearing, cognitive status, and health conditions., Results: We found that hearing loss is weakly associated with heart disease and diabetes and associated with cerebrovascular disease and falls; cognitive impairment is also associated with cerebrovascular disease and the number of falls. LCA indicates that respondents cluster into a variety of health profiles with a consistent pairing of hearing loss and depression., Conclusions: The results are largely consistent with associations reported in epidemiological studies that include age-related hearing loss. Of particular interest in this study is the LCA that suggested that all of the profiles associated with a high likelihood of hearing loss included a high risk of depression. The co-occurrence of these two factors highlights the need to identify and treat hearing loss in older adults, especially as part of the treatment plan for individuals with depressive symptoms.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and disability in the United States and globally. Disease burden continues to escalate despite technological advances associated with improved life expectancy and quality of life. As a result, longer life is associated with multiple chronic cardiovascular conditions. Clinical guidelines provide recommendations without considering prevalent scenarios of multimorbidity and health system complexities that affect practical adoption. The diversity of personal preferences, cultures, and lifestyles that make up one's social and environmental context is often overlooked in ongoing care planning for symptom management and health behavior support, hindering adoption and compromising patient outcomes, particularly in groups at high risk. The purpose of this scientific statement was to describe the characteristics and reported outcomes in existing person-centered care delivery models for selected cardiovascular conditions. We conducted a scoping review using Ovid MEDLINE, Embase.com, Web of Science, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through Ovid, and ClinicalTrials.gov from 2010 to 2022. A range of study designs with a defined aim to systematically evaluate care delivery models for selected cardiovascular conditions were included. Models were selected on the basis of their stated use of evidence-based guidelines, clinical decision support tools, systematic evaluation processes, and inclusion of the patient's perspective in defining the plan of care. Findings reflected variation in methodological approach, outcome measures, and care processes used across models. Evidence to support optimal care delivery models remains limited by inconsistencies in approach, variation in reimbursement, and inability of health systems to meet the needs of patients with chronic, complex cardiovascular conditions.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between tooth loss and co-occurrence of multiple chronic conditions (MCC) among American adults at working age., Materials and Methods: Data was from the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System 2018, a cross-sectional telephone-based, nationally representative survey of American adults. We included participants aged 25-64 years. The survey included sociodemographic data, reported diagnosis of chronic conditions, the number of missing teeth and health behaviours. An aggregate variable of chronic conditions was created which included heart attack, angina, stroke, cancer, chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, depression, and kidney diseases. The association between the number of missing teeth and the aggregate of chronic conditions was assessed adjusting for confounders., Results: The analysis included 202,809 participants. The mean number of MCC was 0.86 (95% Confidence Interval 'CI':0.85,0.87). Tooth loss was significantly associated with MCC with rate ratio 1.18 (95% CI:1.15,1.21), 1.53 (95% CI:1.48,1.59) and 1.62 (95% CI:1.55,1.69) for those reporting losing 1-5 teeth, 6 or more but not all, and all teeth, respectively after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioural factors., Conclusion: Tooth loss could be an early marker for the co-occurrence of multiple chronic conditions among adults of working age. The association could be attributed to common risk factors for oral and general health.

Background: The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model has several components to improve care for patients with high comorbidity, including greater access to face-to-face primary care.Objective: We examined whether high-comorbidity patients had larger increases in primary care provider (PCP) visits attributable to PCMH implementation in a large integrated health system relative to other patients enrolled in primary care.Design, Subjects and Main Measures: This longitudinal study examined a 1 % random sample of 9.3 million patients enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) at any time between 2003 and 2013. Face-to-face visits with PCPs per quarter were identified through VHA administrative data. Comorbidity was measured using the Gagne index and patients with a weighted score of ≥ 2 were defined as high comorbidity. We applied interrupted time-series models to estimate marginal changes in PCP visits attributable to PCMH implementation. Differences in marginal changes were calculated across comorbidity groups (high vs. low). Analyses were stratified by age group to account for Medicare eligibility.Key Results: Among age 65+ patients, PCMH was associated with greater PCP visits starting four and ten quarters following implementation for high- and low-comorbidity patients, respectively. Changes were larger for high-comorbidity patients (eight to 11 greater visits per 1000 patients per quarter). Among patients age < 65, PCMH was associated with greater visits for high-comorbidity patients starting eight quarters following implementation, but fewer visits for low-comorbidity patients in all quarters. The difference in visit changes across groups ranged from 18 to 67 visits per 1000 patients per quarter.Conclusions: Increases in PCP visits attributable to PCMH were greater among patients with higher comorbidity. Health systems implementing PCMH should account for population-level comorbidity burden when planning for PCMH-related changes in PCP utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Liver cirrhosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA. Diabetes is common and increasing in incidence. Patients with compensated cirrhosis and diabetes may be at greater risk of clinical decompensation. We examined the risk of decompensation among a large sample of working-aged insured patients dually diagnosed with compensated cirrhosis and diabetes.Methods: This retrospective study used MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Supplemental Databases (2000-2013). Decompensation events included incident ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, acute renal failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Dually diagnosed patients were defined as patients with cirrhosis and diabetes using previously published ICD-9 coding strategies. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios (HRs), and confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models.Results: Of 72,731 patients with compensated cirrhosis, 20,477 patients (28.15 %) were diagnosed with diabetes. After controlling for patient characteristics and medication usage, the odds of developing any decompensation event were 1.14 times higher for patients with cirrhosis and diabetes than for patients with cirrhosis only (95 % CI 1.08-1.21, P value <0.01). In the Cox proportional hazard model, patients who were dually diagnosed with diabetes had a 1.32 times higher HR (95 % CI 1.26-1.39, P value <0.01) after controlling for time-to-event.Conclusions: Patients dually diagnosed with compensated cirrhosis and diabetes had a higher risk of having decompensation events. Careful management of diabetes in patients with liver disease may reduce the risk of clinical decompensation in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Objective: This study examines small area variations in readmission rates to assess whether higher readmission rate in an area is associated with higher clusters of patients with multiple chronic conditions.Study Design: The study uses hospital discharge data of adult (18+) patients in 6 U.S. states for 2009 from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, linked to contextual and provider data from Health Resources and Services Administration. A multivariate cross sectional design at primary care service area (PCSA) level is used.Principal Findings: Adjusting for area characteristics, the readmission rates were significantly higher in PCSAs having higher proportions of patients with 2-3 chronic conditions and those with 4+ chronic conditions, compared with areas with a higher concentration of patients with 0-1 chronic conditions.Conclusions: Using small area analysis, the study shows that areas with higher concentration of patients with increased comorbid conditions are more likely to have higher readmission rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multimorbidity (multiple co-occurring chronic diseases) is associated with greater likelihood of disability and mortality, above and beyond the risk attributable to individual diseases. This study identifies prevalent multimorbidity patterns and evaluates their association with disability among U.S. older adults.Methods: Prospective cohort study using longitudinal Health and Retirement Study data (2010-2012). We included 8,782 participants aged 65 years and older and used negative binomial models to examine prospective disability, measured by the combined activities of daily living-instrumental activities of daily living index. Multimorbidity was defined as the co-occurring combination of at least two of the following chronic diseases: hypertension, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, stroke, cognitive impairment, or high depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥ 4).Results: We found 291 unique disease combinations with 1 to 1,167 older adults per disease combination. The three most prevalent combinations were: (a) hypertension and arthritis (n = 1,167); (b) hypertension, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease (n = 510); and (c) hypertension, arthritis, and diabetes (n = 430). Only one of the prevalent combinations included depressive symptoms (in combination with arthritis, hypertension; n = 129). This group showed the highest level of activities of daily living-instrumental activities of daily living disability compared to healthy participants or participants with a single disease (either included in the combination or different from diseases in the combination) even after adjusting for age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, and body mass index.Conclusions: Clinicians stand to gain from a better understanding of which disease combinations are more and less disabling among older adults. Understanding how multimorbidity combinations relate to functional status is an important step towards reducing disability and sustaining independent living among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multimorbidity management can be extremely challenging in patients with dementia. This study aimed to elucidate the approaches of primary care physicians in Japan and the United States (US) in managing multimorbidity for patients with dementia and discuss the challenges involved., Methods: This qualitative study was conducted through one-on-one semi-structured interviews among primary care physicians, 24 each from Japan and Michigan, US. Thematic and content analyses were performed to explore similarities and differences among each country's data., Results: Primary care physicians in Japan and Michigan applied a relaxed adherence to the guidelines for patients' chronic conditions. Common challenges were the suboptimal consultation time, the insufficient number or ability of care-coordinating professionals, patients' conditions such as difficulties with self-management, living alone, behavioral issues, and refusal of care support. Unique challenges in Japan were free-access medical systems and not being sure about the patients' will in end-of-life care. In Michigan, physicians faced challenges in distance and lack of transportation between clinics and patients' homes and in cases where patients lacked the financial ability to acquire good care., Conclusions: To improve the quality of care for patients with multimorbidity and dementia, physicians would benefit from optimal time and compensation allocated for this patient group, guidelines for chronic conditions to include information regarding changing priority for older adults with dementia, and the close collaboration of medical and social care and community resources with support of skilled care-coordinating professionals., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Disparities in readmission risk and reasons they might exist among diverse complex patients with multimorbidity, disability, and unmet social needs have not been clearly established. These characteristics may be underestimated in claims-based studies where individual-level data are limited. We sought to examine the risk of readmissions and postdischarge mortality by race and ethnicity after rigorous adjustment for multimorbidity, physical functioning, and sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics., Methods: We used Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data linked to Medicare claims. To obtain ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes to compute the ICD-coded multimorbidity-weighted index (MWI-ICD) we used Medicare Parts A and B (inpatient, outpatient, carrier) files between 1991-2015. Participants must have had at least one hospitalization between January 1, 2000 and September 30, 2015 and continuous enrollment in fee-for-service Medicare Part A 1-year prior to hospitalization. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association of MWI-ICD with 30-day readmissions and mortality 1-year postdischarge. Using HRS data, we adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking, physical activity, education, household net worth, and living arrangement/marital status, and examined for effect modification by race and ethnicity., Results: The final sample of 10,737 participants had mean ± SD age 75.9 ± 8.7 years. Hispanic adults had the highest mean MWI-ICD (16.4 ± 10.1), followed by similar values for White (mean 14.8 ± 8.9) and Black (14.7 ± 8.9) adults. MWI-ICD was associated with a higher odds of readmission, and there was no significant effect modification by race and ethnicity. For postdischarge mortality, a 1-point increase MWI-ICD was associated with a 3% higher odds of mortality (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.03-1.04), which did not significantly differ by race and ethnicity., Conclusions: Multimorbidity was associated with a monotonic increased odds of 30-day readmission and 1-year postdischarge mortality across all race and ethnicity groups. There was no significant difference in readmission or mortality risk by race and ethnicity after robust adjustment., (© 2023 The American Geriatrics Society.)

Objective: To understand the perspectives of home health aides (HHAs) toward their own health and health behaviors, and how their job impacts both., Data Sources and Study Setting: Interviews were conducted with 28 HHAs from 16 unique home care agencies from August 2021 to January 2022. The study was conducted in partnership with the 1199SEIU Training and Employment Fund, a labor-management fund of the largest health care union in the US., Study Design: A qualitative study with English and Spanish-speaking HHAs. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured topic guide, informed by Pender's Health Promotion Model and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Total Worker Health Model. To be eligible, HHAs had to be currently employed by a home care agency in New York, NY., Data Collection/extraction Methods: Interviews were recorded, professionally transcribed, and analyzed thematically., Principal Findings: The 28 HHAs had a mean age of 47.6 years (SD 11.1), 39% were non-Hispanic Black, 43% were Hispanic, and they had a mean of 14.1 years (SD 7.8) of job experience. Five themes emerged; HHAs were: (1) Healthy enough to work, but were managing their own chronic conditions while working; (2) Motivated to be healthy, in part driven by their desire to care for others; (3) Worked closely with sick patients, which influenced their perceptions of health; (4) Experienced occupational and patient-level barriers to practicing healthy behaviors; (5) Sought support and resources to improve their health and wellbeing., Conclusions: HHAs have numerous health challenges, many of which are influenced by their job. Culturally and occupationally tailored interventions may mitigate the barriers that HHAs experience to achieve optimal health., (© 2023 Health Research and Educational Trust.)

Background: Multiple chronic conditions (MCC) require complex patient-centered approaches with effective provider-patient communication., Objective: To describe trends in patient perceptions of provider-patient communication during non-emergency care and identify associated racial disparities in US older adults with MCC., Design, Setting, Participants: Observational study using pooled US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2013-2019) data included adults > 65 with two or more chronic conditions., Main Measures: Provider-patient communication was measured by four indicators (how often their doctor explained things clearly, listened carefully, showed respect, and spent enough time with them). The primary outcomes were the annual rates of reporting "always" for the communication indicators. Cochran-Armitage trend tests examined the trends of reporting "always" and associated racial disparities. Multivariable logistic regression identified racial and other factors associated with respondents choosing "always" for one or more categories for provider-patient communication, defined as positive communication., Results: Among 9758 older adults with MCC, declining trends for positive communication were shown across all provider-patient communication categories during 2013 to 2019 (p<0.001). The greatest decrease occurred in "always listening carefully", from 68.6% in 2013 to 59.1% in 2019 (p<0.001). The declining trends of four communication measures in non-Hispanic Whites with MCC were significant (p<0.001). Older adults from Hispanic or Non-Hispanic Black racial backgrounds were 28 to 51% more likely to report "always" for the four indicators of provider-patient communication than non-Hispanic Whites after adjusting for respondents' characteristics., Conclusion: The rates of "always" reporting positive communication with providers significantly declined from 2013 to 2019 in older adults with MCC, particularly in non-Hispanic Whites. Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks were more likely to report positive communication with providers than other races., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Society of General Internal Medicine.)

Background: The population of older adults living with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) continues to grow. MCC is independently associated with functional limitation and obesity. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between obesity and MCC, and secondarily, the combined presence of obesity and functional limitations with MCC., Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional survey data from the National Health and Aging Trends Survey (NHATS) 2011 baseline data, a nationally representative Medicare beneficiary cohort of adults in the United States. We evaluated the coexistent prevalence of obesity and MCC overall, and by standard body mass index (BMI) categories. We then evaluated the prevalence of functional limitations (mobility, self-care, and household activities) and Fried-defined frailty status in persons with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 . Logistic regression was used to measure the association between MCC and BMI, and functional limitations and MCC among those with obesity., Results: In the 6,600 participants, the prevalence of concurrent obesity and MCC was 30.4%. Of those with obesity, the prevalence of MCC was 84.0%, and were more likely to have MCC (adjusted OR: 2.17, 95% CI 1.86, 2.54) compared to a normal BMI. Obesity and functional limitations or frailty were more likely have MCC than individuals with obesity alone., Conclusions: We found that individuals with obesity is strongly associated with MCC and that functional limitations and frailty status have a greater association with having MCC than individuals with obesity without MCC. Future longitudinal analyses are needed to ascertain this relationship., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The presence of multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) complicates inpatient hospital care, leading to higher costs and utilization. Multimorbidity also complicates primary care, increasing the likelihood of hospitalization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how MCCs relate to inpatient hospitalization costs and utilization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.Methods: The 2012 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID) provided data to carry out a cross-sectional analysis of 1.43 million claims related to potentially preventable hospitalizations classified by the AHRQ Prevention Quality Indicator (PQI) composites. Categories of MCCs (0-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6+) were examined in sets of acute, chronic, and overall PQIs. Multivariate models determined associations between categories of MCCs and 1) inpatient costs per stay, 2) inpatient costs per day, and 3) length of inpatient hospitalization. Negative binomial was used to model costs per stay and costs per day.Results: The most common category observed was 2 or 3 chronic conditions (37.8 % of patients), followed by 4 or 5 chronic conditions (30.1 % of patients) and by 6+ chronic conditions (10.1 %). Compared with costs for patients with 0 or 1 chronic condition, hospitalization costs per stay for overall ambulatory care sensitive conditions were 19 % higher for those with 2 or 3 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.20), 32 % higher for those with 4 or 5 (95 % CI 1.31-1.32), and 31 % higher (95 % CI 1.30-3.32) for those with 6+ conditions. Acute condition stays were 11 % longer when 2 or 3 chronic conditions were present (95 % CI 1.11-1.12), 21 % longer when 4 or 5 were present (95 % CI 1.20-1.22), and 27 % longer when 6+ were present (95 % CI 1.26-1.28) compared with those with 0 or 1 chronic condition. Similar results were seen within chronic conditions. Associations between MCCs and total costs were driven by longer stays among those with more chronic conditions rather than by higher costs per day.Conclusions: The presence of MCCs increased inpatient costs for ambulatory care sensitive conditions via longer hospital stays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The vast majority of patients with diabetes have multiple chronic conditions, increasing complexity of care; however, clinical practice guidelines, interventions, and public reporting metrics do not adequately address the interaction of these multiple conditions. To advance the understanding of diabetes clinical care in the context of multiple chronic conditions, we must understand how care overlaps, or doesn't, between diabetes and its co-occurring conditions. This study aimed to determine which chronic conditions are concordant (share care goals with diabetes) and discordant (do not share care goals) with diabetes care, according to primary care provider expert opinion. Methods: Using the Delphi technique, we administered an iterative, two-round survey to 16 practicing primary care providers in an academic practice in the Midwestern USA. The expert panel determined which specific diabetes care goals were also care goals for other chronic conditions (concordant) and which were not (discordant). Our diabetes care goals were those commonly used in quality reporting, and the conditions were 62 ambulatory-relevant condition categories. Results: Sixteen experts participated and all completed both rounds. Consensus was reached on the first round for 94% of the items. After the second round, 12 conditions were concordant with diabetes care and 50 were discordant. Of the concordant conditions, 6 overlapped in care for 4 of 5 diabetes care goals and 6 overlapped for 3 of 5 diabetes care goals. Thirty-one discordant conditions did not overlap with any of the diabetes care goals, and 19 overlapped with only 1 or 2 goals. Conclusions: This study significantly adds to the number of conditions for which we have information on concordance and discordance for diabetes care. The results can be used for future studies to assess the impact of concordant and discordant conditions on diabetes care, and may prove useful in developing multimorbidity guidelines and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives. Little is known about the magnitude of multiple chronic conditions (MCC) in children. This study describes the prevalence of and patterns of comorbidities in children receiving Medicaid assistance. Methods. Diagnoses from 5 years of Medicaid claims data were reviewed and identified 128 044 children with chronic conditions. The relationship between comorbidities and significant urgent health care events was analyzed using logistic regression modeling. Results. More than 15 000 children (12%) had claims for more than 1 condition. The most frequent combination was asthma and allergic rhinitis. Significant health care events ranged from 18% to 51% in children, and the odds of having a significant event increased with each additional condition. Those with ≥4 conditions had 4.5 times the odds of a significant event compared with those with 1 condition (P < .0001). Conclusion. MCC are prevalent in low-income children and are associated with greater risk for urgent health care use. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• More than half of patients with epilepsy had at least two chronic conditions (CC). • Total unadjusted healthcare expenditures were 3 times higher in patients with 2 CC than those without CC. • Total and specific healthcare expenditures increased with the number of chronic conditions. • Total and specific healthcare expenditure increase was driven by inpatient, outpatient, and medication expenditures. Epilepsy is a frequent neurologic condition with important financial strains on the US healthcare system. The co-occurrence of multiple chronic conditions (MCC) may have additional financial repercussions on this patient population. We aimed to assess the association of coexisting chronic conditions on healthcare expenditures among adult patients with epilepsy. We identified a total of 1,942,413 adults (≥18 years) with epilepsy using the clinical classification code 83 from the MEPS-HC (Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component) database between 2003 and 2014. Chronic conditions were selected using the clinical classification system (ccs), and categorized into 0, 1, or 2 chronic conditions in addition to epilepsy. We computed unadjusted healthcare expenditures per year and per individual (total direct healthcare expenditure, inpatient expenditure, outpatient expenditure, prescription medication expenditure, emergency room visit expenditure, home healthcare expenditure and other) by number of chronic conditions. We applied a two-part model with probit (probability of zero vs non-zero cost) and generalized linear model (GLM) gamma family and log link (for cost greater than zero) to examine the independent association between chronic conditions, and annual expenditures per individual, generating incremental costs with 0 chronic condition as reference. Over half of the patients with epilepsy had at least two chronic conditions (CC). Yearly, for each patient with one and two chronic conditions, unadjusted total healthcare expenditures were two times ($10,202; 95 %CI $6,551–13,853) to nearly three times ($21,277; 95 %CI $12,971–25,583) higher than those with no chronic conditions ($6,177; 95 %CI $4,895–7,459), respectively. In general healthcare expenditures increased with the number of chronic conditions for pre-specified cost categories. The incremental (adjusted) total healthcare expenditure increased with the number of chronic conditions (1CC vs 0 CC: $3,238; 95 %CI $524–5,851 p -value = 0.015 and ≥2 CC vs 0 CC: $8,145; 95 %CI $5,935–10,895 p -value < 0.001). In general, for all cost categories, incremental healthcare expenditures increased with the number of chronic conditions with the largest increment noted between those with 2 CC and those with 0 CC for inpatient ($2,025: 95 %CI $867–3,1830), outpatient ($2,141; 95 %CI $1,321–2,962), and medication ($1,852; 95 %CI $1,393–2,310). Chronic conditions are frequent among adult patients with epilepsy and are associated with a dose–response increase in healthcare expenditure, a difference driven by inpatient, outpatient, and medication prescription expenditures. Greater coordination of epilepsy care accounting for the presence of multiple chronic conditions may help lower the cost of epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medically complex, disabled adults have high 30-day readmission rates. However, physical functioning is not routinely included in risk-adjustment models. We examined the association between multimorbidity with readmissions and mortality using a physical functioning weighted International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-coded multimorbidity-weighted index (MWI-ICD) representing 84 conditions., Methods: We included Medicare beneficiaries with ≥1 hospitalization 2000-2015 who participated in a Health and Retirement Study interview before admission. We computed MWI-ICD by summing physical functioning weighted conditions from Medicare claims. We examined 30-, 90-, and 365-day postdischarge mortality using multivariable logistic regression and length of stay through zero-inflated negative binomials. Models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity, education, net worth, and marital status/living arrangement., Results: The final sample of 10 737 participants had mean ± standard deviation (SD) age 75.9 ± 8.7 years, MWI-ICD 14.9 ± 9.0, and 20% had a 30-day readmission. Adults in the highest versus lowest quartile MWI-ICD had 92% increased odds of 30-day readmission (odds ratio [OR] = 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.65-2.22). A 1-point increase in MWI-ICD was associated with 24% increased odds of 30-day readmission (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.18-1.31). A 1-point increase in MWI-ICD was associated with 32% increased odds of death within 365-day postdischarge (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.25-1.40). Readmitted participants with the highest versus lowest quartile MWI-ICD had 37% increased number of expected hospitalized days (incidence rate ratio = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.17-1.59)., Conclusion: Among Medicare beneficiaries, multimorbidity using MWI-ICD is associated with an increased risk of readmissions, mortality, and longer length of stay. MWI-ICD appears to be a valid measure of multimorbidity that embeds physical functioning and presents an opportunity to incorporate functional status into claims-based risk-adjustment models., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Importance: Adjusting quality measures used in pay-for-performance programs for social risk factors remains controversial., Objective: To illustrate a structured, transparent approach to decision-making about adjustment for social risk factors for a measure of clinician quality that assesses acute admissions for patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs)., Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used 2017 and 2018 Medicare administrative claims and enrollment data, 2013 to 2017 American Community Survey data, and 2018 and 2019 Area Health Resource Files. Patients were Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years or older with at least 2 of 9 chronic conditions (acute myocardial infarction, Alzheimer disease/dementia, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, depression, diabetes, heart failure, and stroke/transient ischemic attack). Patients were attributed to clinicians in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS; primary health care professionals or specialists) using a visit-based attribution algorithm. Analyses were conducted between September 30, 2017, and August 30, 2020., Exposures: Social risk factors included low Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Socioeconomic Status Index, low physician-specialist density, and Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility., Main Outcomes and Measures: Number of acute unplanned hospital admissions per 100 person-years at risk for admission. Measure scores were calculated for MIPS clinicians with at least 18 patients with MCCs assigned to them., Results: There were 4 659 922 patients with MCCs (mean [SD] age, 79.0 [8.0] years; 42.5% male) assigned to 58 435 MIPS clinicians. The median (IQR) risk-standardized measure score was 38.9 (34.9-43.6) per 100 person-years. Social risk factors of low Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Socioeconomic Status Index, low physician-specialist density, and Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility were significantly associated with the risk of hospitalization in the univariate models (relative risk [RR], 1.14 [95% CI, 1.13-1.14], RR, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.04-1.06], and RR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.43-1.45], respectively), but the association was attenuated in adjusted models (RR, 1.11 [95% CI 1.11-1.12] for dual eligibility). Across MIPS clinicians caring for variable proportions of dual-eligible patients with MCCs (quartile 1, 0%-3.1%; quartile 2, >3.1%-9.5%; quartile 3, >9.5%-24.5%, and quartile 4, >24.5%-100%), median measure scores per quartile were 37.4, 38.6, 40.0, and 39.8 per 100 person-years, respectively. Balancing conceptual considerations, empirical findings, programmatic structure, and stakeholder input, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services decided to adjust the final model for the 2 area-level social risk factors but not dual Medicare-Medicaid eligibility., Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study demonstrated that adjustment for social risk factors in outcome measures requires weighing high-stake, competing concerns. A structured approach that includes evaluation of conceptual and contextual factors, as well as empirical findings, with active engagement of stakeholders can be used to make decisions about social risk factor adjustment.